Electric switch.



C. J. KLEIN.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

' r I APPLICATION FILED AUG. 14, 1912.

1,186,585. Patented June 13, 1916. I 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

C. J. KLEIN.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

l 1 5 5 APPLICATION FILED AUG. 14, IQIZ. a m vM a Patented June 13, 1916.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

CHARLES J. KLEIN, F MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO, THE CUTLERr-HAMMER (20., OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION OF WISCONSIN.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patgnt l J e 13 191 Application filed August 14, 1912. Serial No; 715,047.

' citizen of the United States, residing at M11- waukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of Visconsin, have invented new and useful Improvements in Electric Switches, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being bad to the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification.

My invention relates to electric switches.

It has among'its objects to provide a simple, durable and efficient snap switch.

A further object is to provide a switch with operating means movable in opposite directions to either open or close the same with a snap action.

A still further object is to provide a key operated switch for lamp sockets which will make and break circuit with a positive snap action upon rotation of the key in either direction.

Qther objects and advantages of my invention will hereinafter appear.

For the purpose of more fully and clearly disclosing the nature, characteristic features and advantages of my invention, 1 shall describe the embodiments thereof illustrated in theaccompanying drawings. It should be understood however, that these particular embodiments of my invention have merely been selected for thepurpose of illustration.

In the drawings: Figure 1 isa longitudinal sectional view through a lamp socket embodying my invention in one form. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the device shown in Fig. 1 with the inclosing casing removed. Fig. 3 is a sectional view on line 3-3 Fig. 1. Figs. 1, 5 and 6 are enlarged views of a portion of Fig. 2 showing the switch parts in different relations. Fig. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view through a lamp socket embodying a modified form of my invention. Fig. 8 is a side elevation of the device shown in .Fig. 7 with the casing removed. Fig. 9 is a top plan view of Fig. 8, and Figs. 10, 11 and 12 are schematic views of the switch showing the parts in different relations.

The switch shown in Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive comprises a contact 1 pivoted upon a stud 2 and coiiperating with stationary contacts 3 and 4. The stationary contacts are arranged to be engaged bythe opposite ends of the contact 1 and to be electrically connected or bridged by said contact 1. The contact 1 is adapted to be actuated by a pair of spreading resilient arms and (l confined and rotatable within a substantiallyrectangular opening in a plate 7. The contact 1 is actuated by rotation of the arms 5 and 6 in the rectangular opening mentioned. The arms when rotated are. compressed by the walls of the opening until moved past certain points. They then expand and spread, and in so doing inherently continue their rotation at an accelerated speed, one or the other of the same striking the contact 1 and actuating the same with a snap action. The contact 1 may be actuated to either make or break circuit with a snap action by rotation of the arms 5 and (3 in either direction. It is alternately moved into and out of engagement with its cooperating stationary contacts upon successive operations of the arms 5 and (iirrespective of the direction of rotation thereof. For the purpose of illustration, I have shown the switch embodied in a lamp socket 8, the outline of which is shown in dotted lines.

It should be understood, however, that the i switch might be used in other relations. The various parts of the switch are mounted in a horizontally divided two part insulating socket head or base 9 bf the lamp socket. The parts of the socket head or base are suitably recessed to receive the switch parts.

The contact 1 is preferably fulcrume'd on the plate 7 which is set into and suitably secured in the socket head in a vertical position as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. The stationary contacts 3' and 4: which are pref erably formed of resilient sheet metal are secured to the base'by screws 12 and 13 respectively?" The contact 3 is connected by a strip 14: to a wire terminal 15, the screw 12 also serving to secure the strip 14 and wire terminal to the base as illustrated in Fig. 3. The contact 1 isconnected to the usual central lamp terminal 16, said terminal being preferably secured tothe base by the same screw as the contact 4. With this arrangement the contact 1 upon bridging the contacts 3 and 4e completes circuit from the wire terminal 15 to contact 3, to contact 4, and thence to the central lamp terminal 16. The threaded lamp shell 17 of the socket is connected by a strip 18 to a second wire terminal 19.

a in slots 32 in the sleeve of the key.

Returning now to the structure of the switch mechanism, the contact 1 preferably has its extremities set into recesses 20 and 21 in the insulating base, whereby the movement thereof may be limited in both directions by the left hand walls 22 and 23 of said recessesQO and 21 respectively. The contact is preferably provided directly opposite its fulcrum point with the notched portion 2st, while the plate 7 is preferably provided directly opposite'this notched portion with a peaked cam surface 25. The purpose of the peaked cam surface 25 is to disengage the operating arm from the contact 1 as it passes the pivotal point of said contact,

vwhile the notch is provided to permit freedom of movement of the contact about the engaging arm.

The arms 5 and 6 may be of any preferred construction and secured to a suitable operating member in any preferred manher. In practice, however, I prefer to form these arms of a single resilient sheet metal strip 27, bending the same into the form best illustrated in Fig. 1. Also I prefer to roll the extremities of the arms into a cylindrical form to facilitate the slippage thereof along the walls of the opening in the plate 7. As illustrated the strip 27 constituting the arms 5 and 6 is secured to a spindle 28 revolubly mounted in a side wall of the insulating socket head or base. This spindle is provided with an operating key 29 having a lost motion connection therewith. The key 29 has a sleeve 30 loosely fitting on to the outer end of the spindle 28. The key and spindle are secured together by a radial pin 31 carried by the spindle and working The slots and pin provide the desired lost motion connection between the key and the spindle.

operate independently of the key when said arms are impelled by the expansion thereof, therebyrendering it impossible for the operator to defeat the quick action of the switch.

I shall now more specifically describe the operation of the switchassuming the same to be open and the arms 5 and 6'to be in the positions illustrated in Fig. 2. Here it should be noted that when the arms are in the position shown in Fig. 2, the arm 5bears position.

- thereof against the contact 1' above its pivotal point, thereby firmly holding the same in open and 6 be rotated in a counterclockwise direction as indicated in Fig. 4, the arm 5 will ride down the contact 1 and on to the peaked cam surface 25. of the plate 7. At the same time the arm Swill be moved along the'right hand vertical wall, of the opening in the plate 7. This movement of the ar s obviously causes a compression lgvhi oh stores up energy therein. This The purpose of this lost motion .connection is to permit'the arms 5 and 6 to Assuming now that the arms 5 are free to spread and in so spreading in herently move on in the same direction at an accelerated speed independently of the operating key. In somoving the arm 5 re engages the contact 1 striking" the same with a hammer-like blow below its fulcrum point, This drives the contact 1 into the position shown in Fig. 5 in rhich it engages and bridges the contacts 3 and -l-. At tention is again called to the advantage of the peaked cam surface 25 provided on the plate 7. This cam aS before stated maintains the operating arm out of engagement with the cont-act as it passes the fulcrum pointof said contact. whereby a positive and unhesitating movement of the contact is insured when the arm reengages the same.

Again referring to Fig. 2 the contact 1 might be operated to closed position equallvhammer-like blow throwing the same into i closed position. It will thus be seen that the contact may. be moved to circuit closing position by rotation of the arms in either direction and that under both conditions the contact will be operated with a snap action. Also under both conditions the arms would come to rest'in such positions that one of the same-would firmly hold the contact in circuit closing position as illustrated in Fig. 5. The (contact 1 may be returned to the position shown in Fig. 2 by rotation of the arms 5 and 6 in either direction. Ifthe arms were moved in a counter clockwise direction as indicated in Fig. 6 the arm 6 would strike'and operate the contact 1. This operation would be just thereverse of the last operation described. If the arms were moved in a clockwise direction the arm 5 would actuate the contact 1, the operation being just the snap action.

The switch shown in Figs. 7 to 12 inclusive involves the sameprinciple of operation but differs in mechanical structure. In this form I employ a pivoted contact member 35 similar to the pivoted contact of the'previous structure. The contact 35 cooperates with stationary contacts 36 and 37 and is operated by pins 38 and 39 on a rectangular revolubly mounted block 40. Cooperating with the block 40 is a resilient member 41 bearing against the edge thereof. The resilient member 41 always biases the block 4:0 in one direction or the other except when in engagement with one of the flat sides thereof. The arrangement is such that when the block -10 is rotated the member i1 will be placed under tension during a quarter revolution of said block after which it is released and reacts upon said blockto move the same at an accelerated speed for another quarter revolution. This drives the pins carried by the block against the contact 35. moving the same in one direction or the other in accordance with the direction of rotation of said block, thereby insuring operation of said contact with a snap action. The switch is also shown embodied in a lamp socket. It should be understood however, that the switch might be used in other relations.

Referring to Fig. T Ihave shown in dotted lines a lamp socket 42 carrying therein an insulating base i3 in which the switch is mounted. The base is formed in two parts and recessed to receive the switch mechanism. the various parts of which are mounted upon a plate or bracket it secured within said base as by means of screws 45 and 46. The contact 35 is fulcrumed upon a stud 47 projecting from the plate 44: and said plate is provided with lugs 48 and 49 forming stops for limiting the movement of said contact in both directions. The block is loosely mounted upon a spindle 50 revolubly supported in the plate 44 and side wall 51 of the insulating base. The spindle 50 has I secured. to the outer end thereof a suitable operating key In this device I have provided a lost motion connection between the spindle and the block 40 instead of between the spindle and the key. I.have provided the block 40 with a recess and the spindle hearing against the block 40.

50 with lugs 54 disposed within said recess and having a limited movement between the walls thereof. The block 40 is preferably confined on the spindle between the lugs 5t and a radial pin 55. The spring member 41 is illustrated as comprising a strip of spring metal secured at one end as by means of rivets 56 to the insulating base and having at its opposite end an enlarged portion 57 Any suitable terminal connections may be provided. As illustrated the contact 37 is secured to the base by means ,of a screw 58 and'as illustrated in Fig. 9 is connected-by a strip 59 to a wire terminal 60. The contact 36 as illustrated in Fig. 8 is secured to the base by .means of a screw 61 and is connected by a strip 62 to the central lamp terminal 63. The threaded lamp shell 64 is connected by a conducting strip 65 to a wire terminal 66. Hence upon closure of the switch circuit is closed from wire terminal 66 by conducting strip 65 to the threaded shell 6 1, thence through the lamp to terminal 63 by strip 62 to the contact 36, by movable contact 35 to contact 37 and thence by conducting strip to wire terminal 60.

I shall now more specifically describe the operation of this form of switch, assuming the contact 35 and operating block to be in the position illustrated in Fig. 8. In this position it will be noted that the pin 38 is in engagement with the contact firmly holding the same in open position against the stop 48. Assuming now that the block 40 be moved in a counter clockwise direction, as soon as it passes the neutral position shown in Fig. 10, the spring member 41 will re-act upon the same, snapping it into the position shown in Fig. 11. During this operation the pin 30 strikes the contact at the right of its pivot, in'iparting a hammerlike blow thereto. and forcing the same up into the position shown in Fig. 11. This forces the contact intp engagement with its cooperating stationary contacts 36 and 37 and against the stop 49. The pin 39 remains in engagement with the contact 35 holding the same firmly in the position mentioned. The same operation of the contact member might be obtained by moving the rotating block in a clockwise direction. This would disengage the pin 38 from the left hand side of contact and drive thesame against the opposite end of the contact thereby producing the same result as that just described. Under such conditions the pin would assume the same position as the pin 39 of Fig. 11, locking the contact in closed position.

Again referring to Fig. 11 the switch may be opened by movement of the block in either direction. Assuming that the block is moved in an anti-clockwise direction, the pin 39 will be moved toward the left hand end of the contact 35 as' shown in Fig. 12, striking said contact on the left of its pivot and throwing the same to open position against the stop 48. ()peration of the block in the opposite direction would drive the pin 38 back to the position shown in Fig. 8 thereby striking the contact to the left of its center with the result just described.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is as follows:

1. In an electric switch, in combination, a pivoted contactor having arms on opposite sides of its pivot point, a stationary contact, an operating membepcapable of con-- tinned rotation in one direction and adapted to strike the armsof said contactor alternately when so rotated, wherebysaid conangry tion in one direction and also of oscillation,

and adapted to strike the arms of said pivoted contactor alternately upon both rotation and oscillation, whereby said contactor is thrown alternately into and out of engagement with said cooperating contact, and meansassociated with said operating mem-, ber to always insure a snap action thereof at the time of engagement with said contactor;

3. In an electric switch, in combination, a frame having a polygonal opening, a resilient forked operating member rotatable within said opening, and a contact member pivoted to said. frame to be moved with a quick snap action by one of the forks of said operating member when the latter is rotated in either direction. I

4:. In an electric switch, in combination, atwo-part base, a frame therebetween having a polygonal opening, a contact member pivoted to said frame and limited in its movement by said base, and an operating member rotatable within-said opening and arranged to move said contact member with a quick snap action when rotated in either direction.

5. In an electric switch, in combination, a pivoted contact, arotatable member carrymg a pair of resilient spreading arms adapted to engage and operate said contact, and a member inclosing said arms to insure compression thereof when rotated in either digreases rection and prior to operation of said contact.

6. In an electric switch, in combination, a pivoted contact, arevoluble member having a pair of resilient spreading arms rotatable in opposite directions to actuate said switch, and means cooperating with said arms to compress the same when moved in either direction and release the same prior to operation of said contact.

7. In an electric switch, in combination,

a pivoted contact, a revoluble member haV-' ing a' pair of spreading resilient arms rotatable in opposite directions to actuate said switch, and means cooperating with said arms to compress the same when moved in either direction and prior to operation of said contact, said arms being rotatable in either direction to actuate said contact in either direction.

8. In an electric switch, in combination, a member having a polygonal opening therein, a rotatable member having a pair of spring arms confined in said opening, and a pivoted contact adapted to be actuated with a snap action upon rotation of said arms in either direction. v p

9. In an electric switch, in combination, a

member having a polygonalopening there-' in, a rotatable member having a pair of spring arms confined in said opening, and a pivoted contact adapted to be actuated in either direction by said arms upon rotation thereof in either direction.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of twowitnesses.

CHARLES J. KLEIN.

Witnesses CHAs. A. SCHOWALTER, D. L. ROCKWELL.

Goptea this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner or resents. Washington, D. (2." 

